The ‘Road To Wrestlemania‘ has begun. WWE Raw comes to us this week from the Heritage Bank Center of Cincinnati, Ohio. In 2006, WWE held their Cyber Sunday PPV here. With the help of all people, Kevin Federline, King Booker was able to retain his World Heavyweight Championship in a “Champion of Champions” match where he was voted to defend his title against then WWE Champion John Cena & ECW Champion The Big Show. It is the first time WWE comes to this arena under its current name. Let’s run down the Royal Rumble fallout edition of Monday Night Raw.
WWE Raw Preview (1/31/22) – Royal Rumble Fallout
What was your favorite #RoyalRumble moment?https://t.co/54e2WVCkGz
— WWE (@WWE) January 31, 2022
The Return of Ronda Rousey
Coming out of the Royal Rumble, it should come as no surprise that there’s not really much of a card announced yet. What is guaranteed though is the presence of the two Royal Rumble winners. The returning ‘Baddest Woman On The Planet’, “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey has her first appearance on Raw in three years. She, along with our other winner, will be making her selection of opponent to challenge at Wrestlemania. Given the recent rumors, as well as the clear breadcrumbs left in the Royal Rumble, we may have to wait for that Becky Lynch match. As Charlotte Flair seems to be the likely opponent for the Rowdy One.
Brock Lesnar’s Royal Rumble Fallout
The other winner of the Royal Rumble was none other than Brock Lesnar. Entering the show as the, as Paul Heyman would say, “Reigning, defending, undisputed, WWE heavyweight Champion”, it was a mix of Bobby Lashley’s tenacity, the vengeful interference of a very disturbed Roman Reigns, and the betrayal of Paul Heyman that ultimately made Bobby Lashley’s Raw prediction of this being Brock’s shortest reign come true. However, that wasn’t the end of The Beast Incarnate’s night. As he would enter the men’s Royal Rumble at #30 to win his second Royal Rumble. Should be obvious where we’re heading. The real question at this point is how do we fill up the gap.
Alpha Academy Academic Challenge
After winning the first round of the Alpha Academy Academic Challenge, Randy Orton defeated Chad Gable in a spectacular match. Afterward ‘The Original Bro’ Riddle laid the gauntlet down for the next round: A scooter race. Otis, yet again, seemed very ‘animated’ by the challenge. After the rousing success of their segment and match last week, we’ll see if this week matches up. IF it makes it into the show.
United States Title Match?
Last week, the United States Champion Damian Priest got himself disqualified in a United States Title match against Kevin Owens. His “Damian side” emerged, as the commentators adore to point out. After Owens gave Damian his first loss since arriving officially to Raw after last year’s Royal Rumble to earn said opportunity at the US title and then win again via count-out, it’s likely that another title match is on its way. Given last week’s match was sprung on last minute, it would not be surprising if it happened again this week.
Alexa Bliss
Oddly enough, Alexa Bliss did not appear at the Royal Rumble despite being listed in some places and seeing her videos talking about her doll Lillie which was destroyed last year by Charlotte Flair. It was a little baffling there was no follow-up. Her segments in therapy have been a consistent part of Raw. Are we en route to see her back soon? Will she continue with this seemingly crazy but no longer possessed character? Or will ‘The Goddess’ be re-emerging out of these segments?
Road to Elimination Chamber
Elimination Chamber is in three weeks and through social media, it has been announced that Bobby Lashley will be defending the WWE Championship match on the ‘Premium Live Event’s namesake. Tonight we will likely be getting announcements of who the other participants of the match will be. It may also provide some insight into what will happen with Seth Rollins following his pyrrhic victory over Roman Reigns at the Royal Rumble.
Will a rematch with Roman Reigns finally settle things? Or will he go strictly back to Raw and challenge for the other title? Who else would fill the pods for the match? Finn Balor, AJ Styles, Austin Theory, Kevin Owens, Rey Mysterio, Omos, and Damian Priest may be likely candidates. We’ll have to wait and see tonight.
Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. You can check out an almost unlimited array of WWE content on the WWE Network and Peacock.
